Issues
WATER
Water is one of the most pressing issues facing Southwest Colorado, and I will work to focus our efforts on building a better future for everyone. This includes investing in sustainable agricultural practices and community design. I will stand up for Southwest Colorado by pushing for the re-evaluation of trans-mountain diversion projects that pull water from the Western Slope to the Front Range. We need solutions that will prepare us for long-term decreases in snowpack and water levels, not more water pipelines to support unsustainable development on the Front Range. I’ll also fight to make sure that the Lower Basin is doing its part to conserve Colorado River water. This legislative session, I worked with the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes on a resolution calling on the federal government to fulfill its responsibilities to the tribes’ water rights.
HOUSING
High demand and limited housing inventory have led to soaring housing prices, pushing many hardworking individuals and families out of our communities. We need thoughtful planning to preserve the unique character of Southwest Colorado while addressing the need for affordable housing for our workforce. Collaborative efforts between government, local businesses, and community organizations are needed to develop sustainable, affordable housing stock and ensure that families, teachers, and first responders can live in our community. This session, I am working with Sen. Simpson on adjustments to Prop 123 to improve access to homeownership in mountain resort communities like Durango, Silverton, and Pagosa Springs. I also brought forward HB26-1066, which will expand tax exemptions for nonprofit developers to apply to affordable rental properties as well as single-family homes.
RURAL HEALTHCARE
In the sprawling landscapes and close-knit communities of Colorado, healthcare must be accessible and affordable for all families. Yet, our rural areas must navigate significant barriers, including transportation issues, long travel distances, limited facilities, and healthcare worker shortages in order to access essential medical care. I believe that everyone, regardless of their zip code, deserves reliable and accessible healthcare. I am committed to doing everything possible to make rural hospitals thrive, so that they can continue to serve our communities. Access to healthcare must include mental healthcare as well, so that everyone can live fulfilling lives, but rural Colorado also faces an acute shortage of mental health professionals. At the state house, I will advocate for expanding telehealth services and incentive programs for healthcare professionals to practice in rural areas.
PARTNERING WITH NATIVE NATIONS
HD59 includes the sovereign nations of the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Tribes. I am committed to building partnerships with these nations to create sustainable relationships that benefit Native communities in Southwest Colorado. I am dedicated to upholding Colorado’s ongoing commitments to Native communities, while working alongside leaders and community members to improve access to healthcare, sustainable food systems, and their senior water rights to Lake Nighthorse. Protecting Native sovereignty is crucial—and includes everything from supporting economic development initiatives to ensuring that Native communities have the power and resources they need to educate their children in the way that is best for their future. Last session, in collaboration with the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes, I sponsored HB25-1163, which created free passes to state parks for their members, so that they can access pieces of their ancestral homelands throughout the state without having to pay a fee. These passes are a small but important step in reconciliation, and I look forward to continuing to work with the tribal nations and members.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Fully funded public education is integral to Colorado’s future, but our education funding lags behind national averages. State budget limits have impacted our ability to invest in classroom resources, teacher hiring and retention, professional development, and facilities maintenance. As a member of the Durango School Board, I spent four years navigating funding challenges, and I am committed to working toward adequate and equitable funding for education at the state level.
Serving on the House Education Committee allows me to collaborate closely with educators, legislators, and community members to craft effective policies that meet the needs of education in rural Colorado. This year, I brought forward SB26-139 to expand funding opportunities for school districts to build workforce housing for educators, and HB26-1027 to allow certain retired educators to rejoin the workforce more easily without losing their retirement benefits.
AGRICULTURE AND RANCHING
Agriculture and ranching are crucial parts of Colorado’s economy and way of life, contributing more than 170,000 jobs and billions of dollars to the economy every year. However, drought, wildfires, and wolves have put incredible pressure on small and medium farms and ranches across HD59 and the state. Farmers and ranchers are the stewards of the land. As a member of the House Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources Committee, I am deeply committed to working alongside them to find the best path forward toward a sustainable, profitable future. In 2025, I passed revisions to Proposition MM and Proposition LL that will open up more funding for SNAP. Our food assistance programs prioritize local products, and the continuation and expansion of SNAP and Healthy School Meals for All will put money in local farmers’ pockets while putting fresh food on tables..
INFRASTRUCTURE
Rural Colorado needs serious investment in infrastructure to improve our internet access, transportation, water systems, and more. I will fight to continue expanding broadband access in Southwest Colorado, so that everyone can have reliable internet, all the way to the last mile. Infrastructure projects are long-term investments in this community, which is why I am committed to pushing for sustainable development that will prepare us for a rapidly changing future. Over the past year, I have worked closely with CDOT and business owners in Pagosa Springs as the community navigates the challenges around the Highway 160 construction project.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE
Access to reproductive healthcare is a fundamental right, and Colorado has become a leader in providing care in the Mountain West. However, just as rural Colorado has limited access to other healthcare services, many residents struggle to access comprehensive reproductive and maternal health services. Expanding the availability of full reproductive and maternal healthcare needs to be an integral part of our efforts to expand healthcare access more broadly in rural Colorado. During the 2025 special session in August, I co-sponsored SB25B-002 to ensure that reproductive healthcare providers will be able to continue to serve patients on Medicaid, after the federal administration unfairly targeted certain providers. I am committed to working to ensure that everyone is able to receive the care that is best for them. Last year, I also sponsored and passed SB25-118 and SB25-296, requiring state-regulated insurance plans to cover up to three prenatal visits for all expecting mothers and preventative screenings for breast cancer.
THE JUST TRANSITION
As Colorado transitions to a more renewable future, I believe it is elected officials’ responsibility to build strong, comprehensive transition plans, and I will work to make sure that no one is left behind. Oil and gas are still core parts of the rural economy in Southwest Colorado, and the transition to renewables will take time and serious investment. I have two priorities for our current stage. First, I will collaborate with community and workforce stakeholders to spread information about existing opportunities for grants, training resources, and community support, which are available across Colorado as coal mines and plants close. Second, I will work to support Colorado’s efforts to secure and expand state, federal, and private funding to create opportunities in communities impacted by the changing energy sector. This year, I sponsored HB26-1051 to extend the state’s microgrid grant program, so that the town of Rico could complete its battery installation project. The battery system will provide the town with four hours of back-up electricity during power shutoffs, which are becoming increasingly frequent as fire danger rises.
AFFORDABILITY
With the cost of living continuing to rise, our communities need all the tools they can get to lower costs in the way that’s right for them. In 2025, I sponsored HB25-1247 to increase the ceiling for county lodgers’ taxes from 2% to 6% and expand the uses of lodgers’ tax funds to include essential services like childcare, emergency response, and infrastructure. Increasing this cap put more power into the hands of local communities, so that voters in each county can decide what is needed in their area.
I also sponsored the revisions to the Healthy School Meals for All ballot initiatives for 2025 to give voters the choice to both continue to fund meals for school children and to direct extra funding toward SNAP. With grocery prices continuing to rise, many families, seniors, and veterans in Southwest Colorado need food assistance, and these programs are an essential part of people’s budgets. These ballot measures passed overwhelmingly, putting food on tables and money in local farmers’ and ranchers’ pockets. In addition, I supported the passage of HB25-1090, which protects Coloradans from junk fees and deceptive pricing. This will eliminate hidden fees, ensuring that hardworking families receive honest, upfront prices for rent and consumer goods.